Creating a Matching Question

Creating a Matching Question

To create a matching question, complete the following steps:

1. Click the Question Library button on the toolbar.

2. Click the Add Content button. On the Add Content menu, click Matching.

3. The Create Matching window opens to the Question tab.

The screen displays two main areas: Question & Answers and Hints. You can expand or collapse these areas by clicking on the bar or the (expand) a (collapse) buttons.

Note: These instructions take you through a linear progression of creating a Flash question. However, after the information is entered in one area, you can switch to another area; your inputs will be saved. You also can click the Save and Close button to save the question and return to Question Library at any time.

Note: While working on a question, you can see how the question will be displayed for the students by clicking the Preview button. To view a sample question, click the Sample Question icon.

Question & Answers: Add/Edit Question

The Question & Answers section allows you to enter the question title, question text and blank. The Question & Answers section has two subsections: Add/Edit Question and Add/Edit Answer. To enter a question, use the following steps:

1. In the Add/Edit Question area, in the Question title text box, enter the question name. Be sure to use a descriptive name, as this is the way you will identify the question in the Question Library.

2. Enter the question text in the Content Editor. For more information, read the Content Editor topic.

3. Click the Add/Edit Answer subsection bar.

Question & Answers: Add/Edit Answer

The Add/Edit Answer section allows you to enter matching options.

1. In the Answers window, in the first row, type the Text in the text box for the first matching option. If you want to format your answer using fonts, colors, and more, click the Edit/Choose button to open the Content Editor and format your text appropriately.

2. Next, type the Match text in the second text box.

Note: When displayed to a student, the Text entered in the first text box appears on the left side of the matching question as text and the Match text entered in the second text box appears in a drop-down list on the right side of the matching question. Be aware that, when creating a question, if one set of text is much longer than the other, put the longer items in the first text box. (For example, if you have a series or definitions and terms in a matching question, type the definition text in the first text box and the terms in the second match text box.) This prevents the drop-down list from being too long and making matching options hard to read.

3. Enter the Score for correct and incorrect answers, being sure to put an appropriate score for the correct answer (default is 1).

4. Enter the Feedback for correct and incorrect answers (for example, Correct or Incorrect). If you want to format your answer using fonts, colors, and more, click the Edit/Choose button to open the Content Editor and format your text appropriately.

5. If you want to have more than four matching choices, click the Add link. An Answer choice is added to the question. Repeat the steps above to add additional matching items. If you want your question to have fewer than four answer choices, click the Delete link and then click OK to confirm the deletion. Note: you must delete any blank choices before proceeding to the Hints section.

6. Under Options, select the Shuffle choices check box, if you want to shuffle (randomize) the answer choices when they are displayed to the student.

7. Click the Hints subsection bar.

Hints

The Hints section displays, showing three areas where you can enter optional question hints. Hints only display to students in Skill-Based Training, Project-Based Training, or Objective-Based Question Only activities. At the time of scheduling these three types of activities, you can turn hints on or off.

1. In the Hint 1 text box, type the desired hint text. If you want to format the feedback using fonts, colors, and more, click the Edit button to open the Content Editor and format your text appropriately.

2. Complete the same process to enter Hint 2 and Hint 3.

3. Click the Preferences subsection bar.

Preferences

The Preferences section for the question displays, allowing you to further customize the question.

• Time to answer: Choose either Unlimited or Restricted. If Restricted, type the time in the boxes in minutes and seconds.

• Hide question: Hides the question.

• High-Stakes question: Makes the question available only for testing purposes.: High stakes questions are those you want hidden from selection lists when creating non-testing assignments or activities (such as homework).

• Copyright: Type the Copyright information in the box, which is optional.

• Metadata: Three other metadata items can be displayed. For each metadata item, choose an option from the list.

Click the Save and Close button to save the question. The question will now appear in your Question Library.  

At any point while creating a question, click the button to view the question content and layout. Note that, when these questions are played through the myitlab simulation player, your students will not see exactly what you see in the Preview. Click Close to close the Preview window.

Editing a Matching Question

1. Click the Question Library button on the toolbar.

2. Click the option menu next to the appropriate question and then click Edit.

3. Edit the question, following the steps outlined for creating a question, saving the changes when your edits are complete.

Previewing a Matching Question

To preview an existing matching question, complete the following steps:

1. Click the Question Library button on the toolbar.

2. Click the option menu next to the appropriate question and then click Tryout.

3. The question will display in a Preview window. You can test the question, view hints, and click Submit for Grading to view feedback. Note that, when these questions are played through the myitlab simulation player, your students will not see exactly what you see in the Preview. Click the red [x] button or the Return to Course Content button to close the window.

Deleting a Matching Question

To delete an existing matching question, complete the following steps:

1. Click the Question Library button on the toolbar.

2. Click the option menu next to the appropriate question and then click Delete (or click the check box next to the appropriate question and click the Delete link on the toolbar).

3. When the message box displays, asking you to confirm the deletion, click OK to delete or Cancel to cancel the deletion.